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Overview

Czechs make Spain pay penalty

Czech Republic upset the odds and defeated European champions
Spain 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Edmonton's
Commonwealth Stadium on 14 July, 2007.

Neither side looked particularly threatening in a quiet first
half, though Spain appeared the more comfortable of the two, but
the Czechs should have taken the lead in the 53rd minute as Martin
Fenin headed Lukas Kuban's cross just wide when he needed to
hit the target. Adrian Lopez was guilty of an astonishing miss 12
minutes from the end of the 90 when he only had to tap Gerard
Pique's cross into an unguarded net but he side-footed against
the post from two yards out and, for the second successive match,
the sides were taken to extra-time.

Lubos Kalouda fired the Czechs in front near the end of the
first period when Adan failed to collect Petr Janda's corner
and the Brno midfielder blasted in from the end of the box. Pique
thumped a header against the bar as Spain tried to reply instantly
and they equalised in the second phase when Alberto Bueno hit the
post and Juan Manuel Mata converted the rebound. Bueno missed a
golden opportunity to avoid spot-kicks near the end but penalties
were called for, where Marc Valiente hit the crossbar for Spain and
Radek Petr saved Pique's attempt to give the Czechs their
second shoot-out win in a row.

Czech Republic now stay in Edmonton for the semi-final against
Austria on 18 July. This will guarantee the first European
representatives in the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup since Spain
lost to Brazil at UAE 2003.